Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools

Minutes

January Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday January 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Location

82 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206 

Trustees Present

Cecelia Russo, Cynthia Aker, Doris Givens, John Matos, Joseph Sciame, Josue De Paz, Kevin Nesbitt, Victor Rivera

Trustees Absent

Shawn Carson

Ex Officio Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Non Voting Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Guests Present

Lamar Renee Garcia, Lisa-Renée Brown, Patience Brown

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Victor Rivera called a meeting of the board of trustees of Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools to order on Wednesday Jan 17, 2024 at 6:10 PM.

C.

Approve December minutes Regular Meeting

Joseph Sciame made a motion to approve the minutes from December Board Meeting on 12-20-23.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve December Minutes Special Meeting

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Public Meeting of the Board of Trustees on 12-20-23.
John Matos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Academic and Family Life Committee

A.

Committee Update

The current staff is full – we are recruiting for high school staff for next year. We have a date set for graduation and we had an 8th grade meeting today. Saturday academy is being offered and prep commenced for algebra, living environment, and US history - please see minutes for more details. Trustees are encouraged to review the school calendar for upcoming dates and events. Kevin mentioned a potential professional development opportunity for staff at BSNBCS with St. Thomas Aquinas College- STAC.

III. Governance Committee

A.

Committee Update

Committee will be meeting soon - no updates to share at this time. Trustees talked about the potential for a junior board in the near future for the school, especially with the HS opening.

IV. Finance Committee

A.

Finance Committee Update

Balances are slightly higher than the previous month due to the receipt of Per Pupil Payment #4 as well as payments on various grants. We talked through the Penguin Patch, a program similar to Scholastic Book Fair, which was wildly successful with our students and centered student equity (no student went without being able to get something as the school gave each student “Penguin Bucks”). 

B.

Review CARES/ESSER/ESSER2/ARP Funding

Executive Director Nicholas Tishuk updated the Board on the current status of the CARES/ESSER1/ESSER2/ARP FUNDING. We’re currently in process of reporting for this aid and undergoing a desk audit with NYSED, including how the funds were expended and any needed amendments for the limited amount of unspent funds, less than $15K.

V. Development

A.

Development

Gala - the Board discusses the need to allocate the funds from the gala that we raised. 2025 is the 15th anniversary of the school which is a great opportunity for us to raise funds for the organization. 

VI. Public Comments

A.

Public comments

There were no public comments.

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:51 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Josue De Paz